Take the Mystery out of Reading Cat Food Nutrition Labels

When you go grocery shopping, you read the nutrition labels on food packaging to help you decide what you want to buy. But the nutrition label on your cat’s food might look complex and undecipherable by comparison. Read this guide to help you understand what you’re looking at.

Ingredients List

On ingredient lists for your food, the ingredients are arranged in descending order according to the percentage of weight they are in the product; for example, if the first ingredient on a jar of salsa is tomatoes, you know most of the product will consist of tomatoes, with the rest of the ingredients on the label making up the remainder of the product's volume.

The same is true for the label on your cat’s food. If the first ingredient is chicken, you know that a significant portion of the food consists of chicken. When you're shopping for food for your cat, look for foods with real meat; that way, you know you're getting a wholesome product that will include the proteins and amino acids your pet needs to stay healthy.

Guaranteed Analysis

The guaranteed analysis chart lists the minimum and/or maximum percentage of nutrients in a food, such as protein, fat, fiber and moisture. The guaranteed analysis for dry food and wet food will look different; this is because the moisture content in the wet food is so much higher. If you want a way to accurately compare the nutrient profiles of wet food and dry food, you canfind a formula to help you here.

AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles

The Association of American Feed Control Officials sets nutritional standards for pet food. There are currently two separate nutrient categories — one for growing kittens/gestating-lactating mothers and one for adult maintenance. All NUTRO™ Cat Foods meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.

When you’re shopping for pet food, you no doubt notice how many different formulations are available — and they’re not just divided by flavor; they’re also segmented according to life stage. Kitten, adult and senior formulas all are designed to address your cat’s specific needs during each life stage.